The Connect to Sailing seminar at this year's ISAF Annual Conference brought together a panel of industry experts under the title: "The Shape of Sailing - Today and the Future"

Alistair MURRAY, the founder and chairman of the International Sailing Summit, hosted the seminar along with Tim COVENTRY, Connect to Sailing Project Manager.

This year's seminar had an industry focus, with a series of presentations from leading figures in the sailing industry. The panel featured a varied line up from all areas of the industry - from super yachts to dinghies, sailing media to market research - who gave an overview of their area of the sailing market before giving their thoughts on future trends.

Despite coming from very different areas with the sport, all the panellists shared the same overriding goal of Connect to Sailing, to increase participation from the grassroots up. This issue is one of the cornerstones of the ISAF Strategic Plan, but as COVENTRY explained, it has to be approach in bite-sized chunks. Through Connect to Sailing, ISAF is looking to build partnerships with the sailing industry, to develop strategies to get more people out on the water and sailing. As David GRAHAM, Managing Director Performance Sailcraft Europe, said, "I knew this problem of participation was key to our business and wanted to see how we could partner with ISAF to help address it."

A common theme from the panellists was that a key to attracting new people to the sport, especially youngsters, was to really focus on one basic element - sailing for fun. At the entry level sailing should not be about results, racing and rules, but just getting out on the water and having a good time. Peter DURHAM, from BIC Sport Windsurf, expressed the idea as a need for "more focus on the sensations of sailing".

The Seminar finished with contributions from ISAF Vice-Presidents Fiona BARRON (GBR) and Teo Ping LOW (SIN), before Tim COVENTRY wrapped up the meeting.

Tom Burton (AUS) and Alison Young (GBR) hit the right note in the Laser and Laser Radial at ISAF Sailing World Cup Melbourne as they took out the top honours and qualification spots to the 2015 ISAF Sailing World Cup Final.

It was double Australian gold in the Paralympic classes. Matt Bugg (AUS) came out on top in the 2.4mR whilst London 2012 Paralympic SKUD18 gold medallists Dan Fitzgibbon and Liesl Tesch (AUS) were triumphant in the two person keelboat.

Lithuania's Juozas Bernotas came out on top in the Men's RS:X whilst Russia's Stefania Elfutina was triumphant in the Women's RS:X. Both sailors claim the first Abu Dhabi ISAF Sailing World Cup Final spots whilst Jock Calvert (AUS) and Joanna Sterling (AUS) picked up the Oceanic spots for the Emirati finale.

There was some fast paced action in the 49er and 49erFX Medal Races at ISAF Sailing World Cup Melbourne as Nathan Outteridge & Iain Jensen (AUS) and Maia & Ragna Agerup (NOR) claimed the honours and Abu Dhabi final spots.

A tight group of five young Papua New Guinean (PNG) Laser sailors are stepping up their 2015 Pacific Games competition program using this week's ISAF Sailing World Cup Melbourne. PNG is one of 33 countries represented at the important Oceanic event, the largest Olympic sailing regatta in the southern hemisphere.

Melbourne, Australia will host the final Rio 2016 Paralympic Games qualification regatta in 2015. With just under one year until the event, the 2015 IFDS Worlds was launched at ISAF Sailing World Cup Melbourne.

ISAF Sailing World Cup Melbourne kick starts the journey to the 2015 ISAF Sailing World Cup Final in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates with qualification spots and top ranking points available in the Australian city.

Shawn Bennett (USA) won the Long Beach Stop of the 2015 California Dreamin' Series Sunday in this International Sailing Federation (ISAF) Grade 3 match racing regatta hosted by Long Beach Yacht Club and raced on the Long Beach Sailing Foundation's fleet of Catalina 37s.

After the limits of the southern oceans imposed by the combination of the weather systems and the safety barrier of the Antarctic Exclusion Zone, the Atlantic is opening up for the top trio of the Barcelona World Race.